Comments (24)

Manolo

Sofia

New Zealand had “weakened” its sovereignty for relatively small gains, Labour said.

But Labour has helped enable the TPPA to progress to this next Parliamentary step by weakening its own party line voting in allowing one of its member’s, Goff, to avoid supposed hurt feelings because he initiated negotiations of some previous piece of legislation, apparently not important enough to actually be named in the Herald report.So Goff – supposedly soon to depart Parliament – has “feelings” that are more important than “weakening” the nation’s sovereignty?

I guess one of Goff’s first actions if he becomes Mayor of Auckland will be to counter the outcome of the two hour long (approximate $50,000 worth of rates) Council debate on the TPPA of October 8, last year. So as to not offend his fucking feelings.

stigie

Im buggered if i know why Shearer didn’t support the TPP. Was it that he was being strong armed by the union run Labour Party or was it that he needed to be at the trough a bit longer to secure a UN appointment ??

Manolo

Sofia

stigie

Apparently Shearer had earlier indicated his support for the TPPA but he did vote on Party lines as instructed, the whole point of this item being that Goff was granted dispensation to not vote on Party lines.
So much for any sense of democracy in the face of “sovereignty”.
The only thing reigning here is Labour stupidty

Sofia

People have tried to mock Key as “Teflon John”

But as the whole Dirty Politics thingie was partly initiated by the supposed SIS / Cameron Slater camaraderie in endeavouring to point out Goff was wrong while Tucker was right (re a SIS briefing Goff didn’t register and Cameron got such a fast turnaround on his Official Information Request ), one has to wonder why exactly Goff appears to have such a charmed life?
Don’t for God’s sake upset Goff

V

adaman

What I do wonder is of all those people scare-mongering about the loss of sovereignty from this deal, how many of them support international climate deals. I would bet at least 90% of them support such deals despite the fact that these climate deals impinge upon our sovereignty far more than the TPP ever will.

Like seriously, climate deals dictate how your entire economy can grow, due to pressures to reduce carbon emissions etc by X amount. Those who control the economy, control the nation. When we cede our right to grow our economy, create wealth/jobs etc, we have ceded sovereignty. The TPP does not do that, but international climate agreements do.

As such, I expect the Greens, Labour and all those who opposed the TPP on sovereignty grounds to go out there and oppose international climate agreements.

Kimbo

@ stigie (& Manolo)

Im buggered if i know why Shearer didn’t support the TPP. Was it that he was being strong armed by the union run Labour Party or was it that he needed to be at the trough a bit longer to secure a UN appointment ??

As per the Labour Party constitution, their parliamentary members – unless granted special dispensation such as the case of Goff and also Damien O’Connor a few years ago over a local West Coast matter – are not allowed to vote against Party lines.

An important difference with National who do permit that freedom to its MPs (but obviously National Party cabinet ministers cannot do likewise). So National is not just Labour-lite, and there are important philosophical differences. Even Muldoon, the supposed control-freak used to watch the likes of Mike Minogue wander off the reservation regularly. And the final bust-up with Marilyn Waring that lead to the 1984 snap election was due to what he described as his lack of trust that she would continue to vote for her party except for matters of “nuclear issues, disarmament issues, and rape”.

But back to David Shearer – he accepted the nomination as a Labour MP and he was elected to Parliament as such. In the circumstances, and as he knew fully well what that could mean in a situation like the current one, IMHO, and contra Manolo he had no honorable choice other than to fall into line with his party’s stance, no matter how much he personally disagreed.

Just wish he was a National MP/Minister of Foreign Affairs, and from what I hear a fair number of the National caucus think the same!

labrator

It’s very difficult to dissent from the Labour caucus, as they actually have a policy of collective responsibility for the whole caucus – a hangover from their old union days of not wanting to break strikes and the like. So don’t be too hard on Shearer – Goff got a dispensation because he’s about to be gone and nobody gives a crap.

tvb

By giving Goff a free vote on this deal enables the Labour Party to have it both ways. They can say to the remaining band of leftist anti free traders they are with them but bank the economic benefits of free trade which will provide them with the wealth to fund their spending promises.

David Garrett

Blair M: Fair comment…but if he had really felt strongly about it he could have joined Goff…I don’t think Labour are in any position to be expelling any of their members right now…especially not a former leader.

Captain Mainwaring

Nermal

Whether it gets through congress and the senate is not critical. It’s Trans Pacific, not USA. If they want to sit it out and stagnate that’s their problem. See how well protectionism works for them and their ever increasing deficits. It’s weird that in today’s world, where the right of centre parties prefer free trade, only in the USA are they against it.

Gabby

Liberty

“Andrew Little gave Mr Goff special dispensation”
The imploding labour party is too poor and Little to gutless to say no to Goff.
At the same time there is one or two labour MPs who are too gutless for not walking
with Goff.
Why was that. Is there a leadership challenge in the wind?